Newsletter Week 9 Term 2
Sacred Heart School Christchurch - 1 July 2022
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
We were delighted to welcome Sacred Heart whanau back on site last Thursday for the Matariki/Sacred Heart Feast Day breakfast. We were impressed with the turn out of parents on such an early and cold morning and more pleased that the delicious breakfast stretched out to everyone. The day was filled with fun activities across the day. I am always so proud of our senior students who work with, guide and assist children of all ages across the school. This interaction was very evident at a recent Friday class mass where older children sat with a younger child through the service.
This week we have been hit hard with absences. We have had a large number of children away with a number of ailments including the flu, cold like symptoms, gastro type bugs and a few Covid cases. If your child has any sign of sickness at school you will be contacted to collect them to avoid anything being passed on. If your child, or any family member, shows signs of illness, If you are a household contact of someone with COVID-19, or have symptoms - even if you’ve had no contact with someone - it is important to get tested. Common symptoms of Omicron and other variants of COVID-19 are like symptoms of a cold and flu. The most common early symptoms of the Omicron variant are a sore or scratchy throat and a runny nose.
Next week we look forward to seeing parents back on site to discuss mid-year school reports that were sent home on Wednesday via Seesaw and to answer any questions you may have about children’s learning. Please take time to read these reports and leave a comment for your child on Seesaw.
Parent Teacher Interviews
Parent Teacher Interviews are being held on Monday 4 July and Tuesday 5 July. School will finish at 2.00pm these days but any child unable to be collected will be supervised until 3.00pm.
Sport
We are very proud of our two teams at the South West Zone basketball tournament on Tuesday. We had limited numbers but the results were fantastic.
The Year 5/6 team went to overtime in the semifinals only to be edged out by a strong Hoon Hay School team. We just couldn’t pull it off in the 3rd and 4th playoff. Fourth in the Zone is a terrific result. Big thank you to Amelia Williams for stepping in last minute to take this team.
The Year 7/8 team played a round robin against some very strong teams. To finish 3rd overall is a tremendous effort with only 6 players while playing back to back games.
Massive thank you to Mrs Williams for coordinating the whole day for the South West Zone and running the event superbly.
We enjoyed have the New Zealand Olympic Committee here this week with the big shot competition. The year 6/8 students listened to Gemma McCaw, (Olympic Ambassador) and the year 3-8 students loved throwing the shot put.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Ryan in Year 6 who has been selected for the Junior Representative Choir as part of the Christchurch School’s Music Festival this year. 552 students from across Canterbury auditioned to be part of either the Junior (Yr 5-6) or Senior (Yr 7-8) choir, with only 330 being selected. Ryan will now attend 6 Saturday rehearsals and a 3 day holiday programme, before performing over all 4 nights of the festival at the Christchurch Town Hall in November.
Religious Education
Last Thursday, after the Matariki breakfast, the senior school students presented a liturgy focussing on Matariki and Sacred Heart Feast Day - a day that fell on the public holiday. Sacred Heart Feast Day is a day when we remember the love of Jesus for us all. Students read out some beautiful prayers, and nine of our Māori students set a candle down to represent the nine stars of Matariki. The occasion was a very respectful and lovely prayer service for our kura. Ngā mihi to the teachers who prepared the students for this service.
This Friday, the year one classes (Muriwai and Aumoana) will attend Mass. We ask that the students are at school before 8.50 am, the time we walk to the church together, and are seated before Mass begins.
Faith Facts
Quotes from various sources on current topics.
In his homily on Sunday 6 March Archbishop Paul Martin spoke about God’s call:
“...we celebrate the call of God to each of you…God is not a private call, something you get that you hold onto and dig a hole and hide away. It is a call that takes you beyond yourself to your brothers and sisters in faith. The very nature of God is Community - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He calls us to live in relationship with Him in community, with other people who want to respond to His call.”
(Archbishop Paul Martin, Extract from his homily, Rite of Election Mass 6 March in Inform, Issue 131- Lent 2022)
Liturgical Year
Monday 28 June is the Feast Day of St Irenaeus.
Saint Irenaeus was the first great theologian of the Church. His name, which means “peaceful” in Greek, matched the pattern of his life. He is noted for his defense of the Gospel against the various heresies of his day. As Bishop of Lyons, he was always a “good shepherd.” He died in the year 202. For us in New Zealand, Irenaeus gives us a link back to the Apostles as the first Bishop of New Zealand, Jean-Baptiste Pompallier was from Lyon.
School Photos
Swimming Term Three
We do ask that all children take advantage of these lessons and don't opt out. We are an island nation and the drowning statistics each year are very grim reading. We ask that each child comes to school daily with their swimming costume, a towel, and goggles if they have them. A timetable for lesson times will be available next term.
Internet Safety
The Internet is an important source of knowledge, a research tool and a means of social interaction for children, but it can also expose them to dangers and inappropriate material. That’s why it is important to know how to keep your children safe online. Please check out advice from the Police site regarding the Internet.
https://www.police.govt.nz/advice-services/cybercrime-and-internet/online-child-safety
Sacred Heart School Board of Trustees Elections
Sacred Heart School Board of Trustee elections come up every 3 years. This year we will have some members leaving the Board after a number of years service. If you are thinking about what the Board does and would like to put yourself forward for election please contact Frank or speak to one of the current board members.
More information regarding the timeline for this process will come out soon.
Breakfast at School
We are ready to Launch our Daily Breakfasts again. The milkman has delivered a heap of milk and the weetbix are stocked.
All children are welcome to come and have breakfast together each morning. From Monday if your child is eating breakfast at school they can enter the school grounds at 8.20 am.
Upcoming Events
Monday 4 July and Tuesday 5 July - Parent - Teacher Interviews (2pm finish both days)
Friday 8 July - Last day of Term 2
Monday 25 July - Start of Term 2
Tuesday 26 July - School Photos Day
Monday 8 August - Swimming for 2 weeks at Pioneer Pool
Monday 22 August - 2 September - Keeping Ourselves Safe Lessons
Friday 30 September - Last day of Term 3
Monday 17 October - Start of Term 4
Monday 24 October - Labour Day (Public Holiday - School Closed)
Friday 11 November - Canterbury Show Day (Public Holiday - School Closed)
Friday 18 November - NZEI Teacher Only Day (School Closed)
Thursday 15 December - Last Day of the Year.
Our Facebook Page
Our Facebook page is Sacred Heart School Te Kura o Te Ngākau Tapu, Addington
Click here to check it out.
Make sure you keep up with all communications from school and have the latest update of our School App. Download SchoolAppsNZ from the App Store or Google Play and search Sacred
Please visit https://www.lunchonline.co.nz/ to join up and order for your children.
School Times
The Community Dental Service will be providing limited appointments during the school break at;
Woolston Community Dental Clinic, 11, Hopkins Street, Christchurch
Hornby Community Dental Clinic, 2 Hei Hei Road, Christchurch
You can access these appointments by calling our Contact Centre on 0800 846 983, noting that priority is given to children with immediate dental needs.
For any dental advice please call the Contact Centre on 0800 846 983 or email commdental@cdhb.health.nz
Policy Review
We have all our policies and procedures on School Docs. At present we have policies that we would appreciate your feedback on. Please follow the link below and review these policies.
1. Visit the website
http://sacredheartchch.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm (note that there is no “www”!)
2. Enter the user name (sacred) and password (heart).
3. Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.
4. Read the policy.
5. Click the Policy Review button at the right-hand top corner of the page.
6. Select the reviewer type "Parent".
7. Enter your name (optional).
8. Submit your ratings and comments.
Parish News
For Church Notices Please view the Catholic Parish of Christchurch South website. https://christchurchsouth.org.nz or the New App
Here are the details of how to download our excellent new Parish App. Keep updated on mass times, news and what is happening in the Parish.
Go to the App Store on your Apple or Android device and Search 'Church AppsNZ' to download the app onto your device.
Then search "The Catholic Parish of Christchurch South' to find your church app.